title: Compromised visceral circulation does not affect the outcome of colorectal surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Anastomotic leakage is a serious complication after colorectal surgery, and many risk factors for this problem have so far been identified. The aim of this study was to assess the association between visceral arterial occlusive disease and anastomotic leakage.
  
  
  METHODS
  The preoperative abdominal computed tomography scans from all consecutive patients who underwent colorectal surgery with anastomosis in 2010 were retrospectively analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 242 patients were included, with a median age of 65 years (interquartile range 55-74). Anastomotic leakage occurred in 14 % of cases (n = 34). The mortality rate was 3 % (n = 8). There was no association between atherosclerosis of the visceral or iliac arteries and anastomotic leakage. There was also no association between right-sided or left-sided resections and total occlusion of the superior or inferior mesenteric artery, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Asymptomatic visceral artery occlusive disease is not a risk factor for anastomotic leakage after colorectal surgery, and additional radiological imaging or percutaneous transluminal angioplasty for occluded visceral vessels is not indicated prior to colorectal surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Vascular Surgery, St. Antonius Hospital, 3435 CM, Nieuwegein, The Netherlands, vnnkornmann@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Verena N N
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Kornmann
authors.forename: Michiel H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: van Werkum
authors.forename: Thomas L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Bollen
authors.forename: Bert
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: van Ramshorst
authors.forename: Djamila
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Boerma
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D057868:Anastomotic Leak; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases; D001775:Blood Circulation; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012002:Rectal Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014781:Viscera / Q000098:blood supply*